Myanmar Population and Government

Population: 16,824,000 residents, Of which about three quarters Burmese, the rest populations of different lineages.

Production: rice (5 million ha. And 70-80 million q. Per year), cotton (105,000 ha. And 70,000 q. In 1945-46), tobacco (32,000 ha. And 326,600 q. In 1945), peanuts (226.000 ha. and 1.148.000 q. in 1945). The resources of teak are substantial, the forest of which occupies an area of ​​about 90,000 sq km. Among the mineral resources, at the top of all is oil (1,069,000 tons in 1941), with refineries in Rangoon and Syriam; lead (of which Burma is the strongest producer in Asia), almost always associated with silver, copper and zinc (Lamtu mine, near Lashio); tin and tungsten (second place after China); precious stones (especially rubies).

Trade (1940 and 1941 in million rupees): exports 531.1; 653.9, imports, 270.4; 291.8.

Communications: railways (1945) 3625 km.

Political order: Burma has now acquired (see below) its political independence. The Constituent Assembly, elected on April 9, 1947 to draft the constitution, had to solve difficult problems. The most difficult was undoubtedly that represented by the frontier populations, who speak languages ​​other than Burmese and who, subjected by the Burmese in the past or annexed by Great Britain, have always aspired to independence and were therefore reluctant to be absorbed by the new state. Such are, for example, the Karen (400,000 clustered E of Rangoon and 1 million scattered throughout the country), the Shan, the most numerous (2 million divided into 33 feudal principalities occupying the NE territories), the Kachin (360,000 at the borders of the NE, organized into tribes), the Chin (350,000, at the borders of India), etc. The Burmese have apparently succeeded to agree with the Karen, whose principalities will form a federated state which, with great autonomy, will become part of the Burmese Union, together with the Shan state of Mongpai. The heads of the various Karen principalities and the state of Mongpai will be represented in the parliament of the Union, while their respective populations will be represented in the chamber of deputies. Karen members of parliament will then form a Karen council of state, while the Union government will also have a Karen affairs office. while the respective populations will be in the chamber of deputies. Karen members of parliament will then form a Karen council of state, while the Union government will also have a Karen affairs office. while the respective populations will be in the chamber of deputies. Karen members of parliament will then form a Karen council of state, while the Union government will also have a Karen affairs office.